BOITUMELO RANTAO
MAY 2013 marked the peak Côte D’Ivoire reached in the FIFA Rankings after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in the same year.
Gleefully, an enthusiastic glow hovers around the 2021 team – star studded with talent hungry to surpass the triumph of the generation before them.
The 2013 team, consisting of all-time top scorer Didier Drogba and Premier league star Yaya Toure, reached 12th among the world’s best.
The current Côte D’Ivoire team is ranked 61st, as of 20 March 2021, with high-level talent honouring the trend of Ivorian footballing success.
The present-day squad features AC Milan’s authoritative pivot Franck Kessie, who is at the heart of the Rossoneri’s Serie A rejuvenation; silky Arsenal right-winger Nicholas Pepe, and fierce Manchester United defender Eric Bailly.
The Elephants, as Côte D’Ivoire is fondly known as, are led by Tottenham Hotspur wing-back Serge Aurier, a player that has matured to fit the role of leading the team to success
The Elephants coach Patrice Beaumelle expresses how the golden generation of 2005-2013 has inspired the young players currently in the squad. “Young players have pictures of former stars in their rooms, so why can’t they follow in their footsteps?”, Beaumelle said.
Amad Diallo is the latest young star inspired to join the roster. The Manchester United winger, who was courted by Italy to join their Under-21 team, has impressed in limited minutes since joining the reds.
The arrival of the young Ivorian has spurred a hope and drive that the current crop can achieve great results, culminating with continental and global titles.
Head coach Patrick Beaumelle also expressed his joy and ambition at the current crop striving towards AFCON and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“The World Cup is the ultimate goal for any national team coach, but it’s premature to talk about it now. My goals under my current contract relate to the upcoming AFCON. As I said earlier, we’re going through a transition so are currently focused on the continental tournament. However, the World Cup is certainly on my mind.” Beaumelle told FIFA.
The AFCON qualifiers are a fortunate test for a team with high ambitions – the Elephants are grouped with Madagascar, Niger, and Ethiopia. The qualifiers will prove a necessary hurdle on their way to continental dominance.
